Archibald was the first McMillan born in Australia. He was born in Minmi, near Wallsend in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, on the 28th May 1880. He was the elder twin of James who died a few days later.
Presumably he bacame a miner, like his father, older brother and brothers-in-law. In 1899 he followed the gold rush to the eastern goldfields of Western Australia. He married Elizabeth Wilson in Leederville, Perth, in 1903, and they were living at Marvel Loch in 1910; he was working at the Never Never Mine.
SOUTHERN GROSS, Saturday.
The Bullfinch boom continues unabated, and is showing increased vigor. Gold has been found here and there on the leases contiguous to the parent mine, together with genuine discoveries in the Marvel Loch district.
Favorable reports on the big lode and quartz propositions at Never Never, by miing men of repute, have helped to create a firm belief even among those who came on the scene full of scepticism that the Yilgarn field was pregnant with big possibilities.
BILL HENDERSON'S OPINION.
Mr. W. Henderson, of the Mararoa, after concluding a lengthy visit of inspection covering the auriferous belt from the Bullfinch to the Never Never, departed after expressing himself most ' optimistically concerning the mining outlook on the belt. Dorry Doolette's show,' he stated, was the richest gold mine ne had ever seen. Ile could advance no reason why the big ore channel should not be proved to continue," carrying propositions of equal value. The large quartz propositions he saw in the area covering the Marvel Loch and Never Never seemed to him' to bear the " impress of permanency. Other visiting experts, including Mr. Dalgleish, of the Cumberland mine, Norseman, ventured similar opinions.
- Sunday Times Sunday 6 November 1910
Archibald died in 1914 at 34yo from the effects of dust in his lungs - very common amongst miners at that time. The cause of death was entered as Phthisis (Pulmonary tuberculosis: involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body. Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease and a restrictive lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust, often in mines). He'd been diagnosed with the disease twelve months earlier.
He left a wife and 5 young children, He's buried at Tammin. Elizabeth placed In Memorium notices in the paper for years after his death. I can't find a mine at N.E. Tammin, so I wonder if they were farming by then.
Western Mail , Friday 31 July 1914
MCMILLAN. On July 24, 1914 the beloved husband of Mrs. Archie McMillan, youngest son of Mrs. T. McMillan, Southern Cross, also brother of T. McMillan and Mrs. A. Fisher and Mrs. E. Alcock, aged 33 years. For of such is the Kingdom of God.
McMILLAN. In loving memory of my dear husband and our dear father. Archie McMillan, who died at his home, N.E. Tammin, on July 23, 1914. Inserted by his loving wife and famly, E. McMillan.
The West Australian, Saturday 24 July 1915